Thursday, December 29, 2005

Miami Herald reports that in Florida, reported hate crimes rose by 21.5% statewide between 2003-04! This incredible jump might be partially attributed to better investigating and reporting by the police department. Even so, these numbers are certainly alarming. Florida has some of the toughest hate crime laws in the nation. The message law enforcement is sending these bigots is if you break the law "You are going to get caught and nailed and jailed.'' The article points out however, that it is unclear how often lawbreakers really are ''caught and nailed and jailed'' in the commission of hate crimes, because no agency tracks such incidents from police report to arrest (if there is one) to prosecution.